Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Environment Minister Peter Altmaier and Development Minister Dirk Niebel welcomed more than 70 Ambassadors from around the world to a reception in the Federal Foreign Office today (20 September). The three Cabinet Ministers jointly outlined the German bid to host the headquarters of the Green Climate Fund in the city ofBonn. The numerous guests from the spheres of politics, research and business included Bonn Mayor Jürgen Nimptsch

The Green Climate Fund was launched in 2011, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference inDurban. Its objective is to help finance measures in developing countries and emerging economies aimed at reducing emissions and assisting adaptation to climate change. The plan is to mobilize up to 100 billion US dollars annually as of 2020, with a large proportion of that money managed by the up to 300 staff of the Green Climate Fund Secretariat.

Germanyhas offered to host the Green Climate Fund inBonnwith the aim of further enhancingBonnas a headquarters city for international organizations and to support the international efforts to combat climate change and its consequences. To backGermany’s bid, the art exhibition “CLIMATE-CHANGE-MINDS” was staged in the Federal Foreign Office and highlighted the many faces of climate change.

Climate policy is an increasingly important part of our preventive foreign policy. Even now we can see the dramatic consequences that climate change and environmental problems can have for the peace and security of entire regions.

In just a few years,Bonnhas been transformed into a major United Nations location. The German UN city now has its own distinct profile with a focus on sustainable development and environmental protection.Bonnis therefore the ideal location for the Green Climate Fund. We will actively campaign on the city’s behalf,” said Guido Westerwelle.

A further aim is to raiseGermany’s profile in international environmental policy. Peter Altmaier underscored the relevance ofGermany’s new energy strategy in this context:

“The transformation of our energy system gives us a great opportunity to prove that growth and consumption can be successfully decoupled – and not just in industrialized countries but worldwide.

The Green Climate Fund is also committed to precisely this goal. We therefore absolutely want the Fund to be a success, andBonnis the right location for this to happen. I firmly believe that the future belongs to the unified force of economy and ecology combined.”

The German Government would provide a new building costing up to 75 million euros in order to give the Green Climate Fund a productive base in the heart ofEurope. Federal Development Minister Dirk Niebel emphasized that:

“Germanywill be a strong and reliable partner to the Green Climate Fund when it comes to international climate policy. AndBonnwill be a strong host city, providing an unparalleled combination of climate science expertise and practical experience of development cooperation.”

Rival bids have been put forward bySwitzerland,Poland,Korea,NamibiaandMexico. The decision on which city will host the Fund will be taken in mid October.